Fire-escape.



No. 663,856. Patented Dec. 18, I900.

T. F. BROWDER. I

FIRE ESCAPE.

(Application filed Apr. 14. 1900.)

(N0 Mudel.)

' the joint between the sections of the frame,

THOMAS F. BROWDER,

rrrcn.

Farnn'r OF GREENFIELD, OHIO.

FIRE-ESCAPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 663,856, dated December 18, 1900.

Application filed April 14, 1900.

1'0 all whom it may concern: Y

Be it known that I, THOMAS E. BROWDER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Greenfield, in the county of Highland and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fire-Escapes; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention belongs to that class of devices designed to provide an escape for persons from a burning building by jumping when no other safe means of exit presents itself, and in this connection it is intended particularly as an improvement on the device patented by me August 2, 1887, No. 367,362. The invention relates more particularly to the connection between the blanket and the hangers, and to the reinforcement of the blanket, whereby the device is rendered more desirable and safe without adding appreciably to the cost or weight.

For a full description of the invention and the merits thereof and also to acquire a knowledge of the details of construction of the means for effecting the result reference is to be had to the following description and the drawings hereto attached.

While the essential and characteristic features of the invention are necessarily susceptible of modification, still the preferred embodiment thereof is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of the fireescape constructed in accordance with and embodying the principles of the invention. Fig. 2 is a perspective View of the frame folded and stripped of the blanket and hangers. Fig. 3 is a detail view in perspective of the parts of the joint separated. Fig. 4: is a detail perspective view of the key. Fig. 5 is a detail view of a modified form of link between the blanket and hanger. Fig. 6 is a detail View in elevation of the link shown in Fig. 5.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

In its general construction the fire-escape Serial No- 12,867- \No model.)

comprises the frame 1, blanket 2, and yielding connections between the frame and blanket. The frame is of sectional construction, so as to fold in a small space, and may be of any configuration and size, according to the general outline of the device. In the preferable construction the frame is of circular outline and is composed of two sections or halves hinged together, so as to fold one upon the other. The members of the frame are rein forced at their terminals, as shown at 3, and ears or lugs project from the reinforcements at diametrically opposite points and are adapted to receive the fastenings,by means of which the sections of the frame are secured when unfolded or extended, so as to lie in the sameformed upon one side of the terminal portion ofthe key,and whichlugafterpassing through the registering openings 6 is caused to sit crosswise thereof by turning the key 5 so as to occupy a position at a right angle to the plane of the frame. The end portion of the key carrying the lug 7 is reduced, as shown at 8, and the shoulder formed at the inner end of the reduced part 8 limits the movement of the key when inserting it through the openings 6, and after the lug 7 has cleared the ears and the key is turned it is prevented from casual displacement by the said lug 7 and shoulder at the base of the part 8. The joint is stiffened and strengthened by means of a projection 9 at the end of one section entering a socket 10, provided in the end of the adjacent section, said projection overlapping the joint formed between the sections of the frame and preventing relative movement thereof in any direction. The projection 9 is of rounded form, which is best adapted to cause the sections of the frame to aline and admit of their free folding and unfolding when extending or closing the frame.

The blanket 2 may be of canvas, duck, or any stout textile, and its outer edge is reinforced and is provided at intervals with loops 11 to receive the means forming the yielding connection between the blanket and the frame. A supplemental blanket 12 is placed upon the blanket 2 and is padded and preferably composed of two plies, between which is interposed a layerof cotton-batting or other packing material, the whole being quilted.

' This supplemental blanket may be placed loosely upon the main blanket 2 or may be stitched or otherwise secured thereto and is preferably of less diametrical extent and when free of the blanket 2 is connected at its edges therewith by stout elastic strips 13, which assist in a measure inbreaking the fall of a person alighting upon the device when jumping from an elevated point. In order that the person may be enabled to alight upon the central portion of the blanket, the latter is provided at its center with a textile 14; of contrasting color to that of the blanket, so as to be readily distinguished at a distance. The purpose of the supplemental blanket 12 is to strengthen the mainblanket 2 and materially assist in breaking the fall of the person jumping from an elevation upon the dev1ce.

The hangers 15 consist of eyebolts or rods having their lower ends threaded to receive nuts 16 and their upper ends bent to provide eyes which receive the rod or bar from which the frame is constructed. A spring 17 is mounted upon each hanger and supports the connection provided between the hanger and blanket. The connection may consist of a single link 18 or a sleeve 19 and link 20, the cross-head being slidablymounted upon the hanger andthe link 20 having an end portion fitted to the sleeve and its opposite end portion receiving one of the loops 11. The link 18 comprises a loop 21 and an eye 22, the latter receiving a hanger and the loop 21 passing through one of the loops 11. The loop'2l and eye 22 occupy a position at a right angle to each other, whereby the eye 22 is prevented from binding upon the hanger and is adapted to slide freely upon said hanger under the action of the spring 17 and a weight superposed upon the blanket.

When the device is not required for immediate service the sections of the frame are folded one upon the other, so as to reduce the appliance within limits for conveniencein storage; but when it is required for action the sections of the frame are extended and are held in the same'plane by means of a key 5. When in position to receive a person jumping from a burning building, the device is grasped by a numberof persons catching hold of the frame 1, and in order to prevent injury to the hands and to the person jumping by striking the said frame the latteris clothed or covered by means of a casing 23, of rubber or similar'fibrous and yielding material, which is disposed so as not to interfere with the free movements of the hangers, which is essential to ease the shock incident to the eeass person striking the blanket when alighting thereon.

Within the purview of the invention it is contemplated to dispense with the hinge feature between the sections of the frame, likewise'do away with the projection 9, extending across the joints. It is also proposed to have the frame either plain or protected by the application thereto of the covering. The link disclosed in Fig. 5 maybe cast or otherwise formed without having the portion between the eye 22 and loop 21 welded or brought together. The inner blanket 12 prevents tearing of the blanket 2 and strengthens and reinforces it. The featuresjust enum erated are of minor importance and may be varied in form and proportion without departing in the least from the spirit of the invention as contemplated and set forth in the claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. In a fire-escape of the character described, and in'combi-nation with the blanket and yielding connections, a sectional frame adapted to fold, and reinforcements applied to the terminals of the sections and adapted to form hinge members, one set of reinforcements having sockets and the other set projections to enter said sockets and overlap the joint formed between the sections, substantially as specified.

2. In a fire-escape of thecharacter set forth, and in combination with the blanket and yielding connections, afolding frame having its sections provided at diametrically opposite points with corresponding transverselyapertured ears adapted to overlap, one set of ears constituting a hinge-joint, and afastening removably fitted to the other set of cars, substantially as set forth.

3. In a fire-escape of the character set forth, and in combination with the blanket and yielding connections, a folding frame having ahinge connection upon one side of its plane and provided upon the other side with ears adapted to overlap and transversely aper tured, the openings in the last-mentioned ears being elongated in a direction parallel with the plane of the frame when extended, and a key having an-ofistanding lug to pass through'the elongated opening of'the match ing ears and adapted to be turned to sit-crosswise thereof, substantially as set forth.

4:. In a fire escape of the character described, a'folding frame 'for supporting the blanket and yielding connections, the joint between thesections ofthe frame comprising a'socket and a projection and having relatively upper and lower sets of ears, theupper ears being permanentlyhinged and the lower ears having transverse openings elongated in a direction parallel with the plane of the frame when extended, and a key having a reduced end portion provided with a-terminal offstanding lug to pass through the ears having elongated openings, said key being adapt ed to be turned to confine the ears between a lug thereof and the shoulder formed at the base of the reduced end portion, substantially as specified.

5. In a fire-escape, and in combination with the frame, blanket and hangers, supportingsprings, Links, each comprising an eye and a loop portion and bent intermediate of its ends to throw the eye and the loop approximately at a right angle to each other, the eye portions of the links encircling the respective hangers, and means connecting the loops with the blanket, substantially as specified.

6. In combination with the frame, blanket and hangers, supporting-springs, links connecting the blanket with the hangers and comprising a looped portion and an eye portion disposed relatively at a right angle to each other, the eye portion being slidably mounted upon the hangers, substantially as specified.

7. In a fireescape of the character described, a blanket and yielding connections,

in combination with a sectional frame hav- 

